23.8.16

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on Sunday night reportedly killed
three persons among them, one Pastor Luka Ubangari of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God, Unguwan Anjo, near Godogodo in the Jema’a Local
Government Area of Kaduna State.

The cleric was said to have
been ambushed, shot and killed while on his motorcycle after an
evangelical visit to Golkofa, also in the area.

The incident
occurred a few days after the state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai,
visited Godogodo and Sanga districts, in the Jema’a and Sanga local
governments areas, all in the southern part of the state to appraise the
attacks of suspected Fulani herdsmen in the area.

El-Rufai in
the affected villages of Gada Biyu, Anjo and Godogodo penultimate
Tuesday, condemned the killings, describing them as ‘senseless,’
promising to arrest the perpetrators.

A source told our
correspondent that two days after the murder of Ubangari, suspected
herdsmen attacked Ningon village, 6km from Gwantu, headquarters of Sanga
LGA, killing two persons and seriously injuring another person.

The
source, who craved for anonymity, noted that their joy during the visit
of the state governor to the area, turned sour as result of the latest
attack.

He said, “We were happy that Governor Nasir el-Rufai
visited and assured us of improved security and that the killers would
be found and punished.

“To our shock, Pastor Luka Ubangari was
ambushed, shot and killed as he was riding his motorcycle after an
evangelical visit to Golkofa. He was killed by Fulani men who were out
to remove us from our ancestral lands.”

Mr. Nuhu Tukura, the
President of the Ningon Community Development Association, said Ningon
was attacked on Sunday night and two natives, Gambo Sule, 38, and
Benjamin Auta, 35, were killed by gunmen.

He added that the police only arrived on Monday morning following a distressed call put on to them on Sunday night.

“We
are seriously troubled by all these happenings. Now, we don’t even know
what we can do to have rest. Our farms, we cannot go, and our houses we
cannot live in. What else shall we do?

“We called the police
immediately the incident occurred around 8:45pm on Sunday night, but
they did not come until around 7:30, this morning, (Monday). “We are
pleading with the state government to help us with security and assist
us in feeding. Most farmers are afraid to go to the farm and there will
be food scarcity problem this year and the next.”

The Kaduna
State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Usman, who
confirmed the incident told our correspondent on phone that only one
person was killed.

Usman said but for the timely intervention of the police, the casualty figures would have been higher.

He said the police used armoured personnel carriers to chase the armed bandits out of the villages.

Usman
said, “When the people learnt of the invasion of the attackers, the
police in the area swiftly moved in with APC to chase away the
attackers. However, one person was killed. Our men acted quickly to save
the situation.”